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Horizon reaches new peak with solar energy

July 12, 2017

Horizon Beverage, one of the largest wholesale spirits, wine and beer distributors in New England, is now powering its operations with clean, renewable solar power.

The family-owned company has announced that its new 978kW DC solar PV system is in operation at its Norton, Mass., distribution facility, according to a press release. The project was made possible through a partnership with Beaumont Solar, a leading, solar developer.

Horizon Beverage selected Beaumont Solar to engineer, design and construct the system. Consisting of 2,990 solar panels, Horizon Beverage's rooftop solar system will produce an estimated 1,123,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity annually for the company, lowering its total grid consumption by about 33 percent.

That is equal to the amount of electricity used by 117 average homes per year, the release said.

Since inception, Horizon Beverage has fostered an environment of ingenuity, innovation and expertise to help suppliers, retailers and restaurant entrepreneurs reach their goals while enhancing the careers of their employees, the company said. An important part of this philosophy is also to do this in an environmentally conscious "green" manner.

It has implemented company-wide sustainability initiatives to lead responsibly in the beverage distribution industry such as paper-use reduction and recycling approximately 30 million bottles annually. The addition of solar power to their environmentally friendly practices was a natural next step, officials said.

Beaumont Solar designed the system with a lightweight, ballasted racking component to accommodate the weight load parameters of the roof of the facility's newer section of the building.

THESE COMPANIES GENEROUSLY SUPPORT THE PGB MISSION; PROVIDE ABUNDANT, NO-COST, AND OBJECTIVE INFORMATION CONCERNING THE STRATEGIES, SYSTEMS, AND PRODUCTS OF HIGH PERFORMANCE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENCES